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Cameroon: Innovations and ICT and Their Combined Performance Effects on Small, Medium, and Micro-sized Enterprises

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Management Challenges in Different Types of African Firms

Part of the book series: Frontiers in African Business Research ((FABR))

Abstract

A firm’s performance is a result of many factors including its ability to innovate and use ICT . Investments in ICT and innovation are also seen as a driver of productivity and competitiveness, enhancing the continuity of a business. This chapter assesses these two sources of performance and examines possible synergies between different types of innovations through ICT and their effect on the performance of small, medium and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs) . The data used is the General Census of Companies in Cameroon conducted with 93,969 companies by the National Institute of Statistics (INS). The chapter uses a multiple regression model to assess the direct effects of innovative activities and the use of ICT tools in business practices, as well as the combined effect of different types of ICT innovations on SMMEs’ performance. The statistical analysis shows that the integration of innovations and ICT is very low in Cameroonian SMMEs but that this increases systematically with company size. The econometric analysis shows that ICT helps increase SMMEs’ performance by supporting innovations. Thus, innovations accompanied by a firm’s further use of ICT have a significant influence on its performance. However, specific investments in innovations and the use of existing ICT resources lead to differentiated performance in terms of strong effective market changes, creating new markets and improving goods and services.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Yaoundé II, Soa, Cameroon

    Ludwick 1er Ndokang Esone & André Dumas Tsambou

Authors
  1. Ludwick 1er Ndokang Esone
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  2. André Dumas Tsambou
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Correspondence to Ludwick 1er Ndokang Esone .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Jonköping Intl Business Sch, Jönköping University Jonköping Intl Business Sch, Jönköping, Sweden

    Leona Achtenhagen

  2. Jönköping Intl Business Sch, Jönköping University Jönköping Intl Business Sch, Jönköping, Sweden

    Ethel Brundin

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1er Ndokang Esone, L., Tsambou, A.D. (2017). Cameroon: Innovations and ICT and Their Combined Performance Effects on Small, Medium, and Micro-sized Enterprises. In: Achtenhagen, L., Brundin, E. (eds) Management Challenges in Different Types of African Firms. Frontiers in African Business Research. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-4536-3_10

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